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Sunshine Coast boxer Paul Fleming chose the perfect time to turn the tables on long-time rival Luke Jackson after realising his Olympic dream last night.

Fleming won the 57kg Oceania Championships final in Samoa against Tasmanian Jackson, who had won their previous three bouts, to secure his place in Australia’s Olympic team.

And according to his trainer Mike Foley, the Shamrock Gym fighter knew he would achieve his destiny 24 hours earlier.

The day before Fleming not only beat Samoan Taga Samueli Faialaga in the semis, he pulverised him 18-5. The defending Oceania champion had no answer for Fleming’s attacking arsenal.

“After the semi he told me I’ve never boxed so good,” Foley, who didn’t travel with Fleming, said.

“I made a decision that I wasn’t going to contact him because he was away with other coaches, and he stayed strong and did what he needed to do.

“I told him because I’m not there you have to be hard on yourself and stick to the game plan.

“Boxing’s all about confidence and he felt like he was invincible after that semi.”

Fleming had previously lost to Jackson in the final at the Australian titles, forcing him to qualify for Australia’s Oceania Championships squad via the ‘B’ finals in Canberra. He won both his bouts convincingly to keep his Olympic dream alive.

And despite a poor recent record against Jackson, Foley shared his protégé’s confidence that he could win the fight that mattered most.

“I had a really good feeling, and other trainers will tell you that sometimes you have this calmness go over yourself that tells you everything’s going to go well,” he said.

“We changed our training and Paul started doing lots and lots of running, working on his technique and certain combinations he should be throwing.”

Fleming’s qualification continues a remarkable record for the Shamrock Gym, who have now produced three Olympians.